The Mighty Mississippi in the Fall

Day 1: UK/St Louis, Missouri
Your holiday begins with a fl ight to St Louis, where you will stay overnight. This vibrant Midwestern city is home to the fi rst skyscraper, the Wainwright Building, and the impressive Gateway Arch.

Day 2: St Louis/American Queen
You’ll embark the American Queen today, an elegant, traditional steamboat which will be your home for the next seven nights. After you’ve settled into your cabin enjoy this evening’s Captain’s Champagne reception and gala dinner. Admire the Gateway Arch as you cruise away from St Louis and set off on this unique adventure.

Day 3: American Queen
Relaxing day on board American Queen.

Day 4: Hannibal, Missouri
Today join our included tour of Hannibal, the childhood home of Samuel Clemens, better known as the author Mark Twain. First stop is the Mark Twain Boyhood House and Museum. Other highlights include the Justice of Peace, the courtroom which featured in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and a visit to Becky Thatcher House, the home of Tom Sawyer’s first sweetheart.

Day 5: American Queen
Relaxing day on board American Queen.

Day 6: Dubuque, Iowa
Today we include a tour of Dubuque. You’ll visit the Museum of Art, the Grand Opera House and the Shot Tower, where nearly two-thirds of all the lead shot used during the Civil War was produced. You’ll continue to Mathias Ham House, for a flavour of life during the golden era of steam boating, and Hotel Julien – reportedly used by gangster Al Capone as a hideout when he fled from trouble in Chicago.

Day 7: La Crosse, Wisconsin
On our included sightseeing tour of La Crosse you’ll have the chance to admire charming Victorian and Art Deco architecture, visit the Riversid museum and stroll in the beautiful Riverside International Friendship Garden.

Day 8: Red Wing, Minnesota
On arrival in Red Wing today join our included tour. Starting at the Visitor Centre for Art you’ll learn a little about your destination before visiting the historic West End, where you’ll fi nd a fantastic variety of shops selling everything from pottery to antiques.

Day 9: Saint Paul, Minnesota
It’s time to disembark American Queen today in Saint Paul. Join our included tour this morning through this city which is surrounded by skyscrapers and stretches 29 miles along two bends of the Mississippi. pend this afternoon at leisure making your own discoveries. You’ll stay in Bloomington overnight.

Day 10: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Today your tour continues on to Milwaukee, which sits on the west shore of Lake Michigan, one of the five Great Lakes of North America. We will stop en route in Madison, the State Capitol, for lunch. You’ll stay in Milwaukee overnight.

Day 11: Chicago, Illinois
Join our included sightseeing tour of Milwaukee this morning, before heading south to the vibrant city of Chicago, where a two-night stay has been arranged. The city is host to a huge range of cultural attractions and world-class museums, so enjoy a free afternoon to explore at your leisure.

Day 12: Chicago, Illinois
Join our included sightseeing tour of Chicago this morning, which will help you to understand why it was immortalised in the song ‘My Kind of Town’ by Frank Sinatra. This afternoon is free for you to explore at your own pace. Why not ascend the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) – the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. If you’re feeling brave, step out on to The Ledge, a glass-enclosed balcony 1,353 feet above street level. It’s quite a view!

Day 13: Chicago/UK
Transfer to the airport for your flight back home to the UK.

Day 14: UK
You’ll arrive back in the UK today.

Please note

You will stay in the:

Hilton in St Louis
Crowne Plaza in Bloomington
DoubleTree by Hilton
Hotel Milwaukee Downtown
Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza in Chicago
These comfortable hotels feature a restaurant or breakfast room and fitness centre. Guest rooms have en suite facilities, TV and coffee-maker.

Your ship: The America Queen

The largest steamboat ever built, the grand American Queen is a gracious and elegant vessel, and the only authentic overnight paddlewheel teamboat in America. Public rooms and cabins display the opulence of the American Victorian era while still boasting all the modern amenities you’d expect in a luxury hotel.

Inside you’ll fi nd glistening woodwork, fresh flowers and antiques, while outside, lacy fi ligree evokes memories of the many stately river steamers that preceded her. And of course, onboard service comes with a smile courtesy of the professional team of staff who are on hand to cater for your every need.

Cabins offer all the comforts of home

Comfortable inside cabins all feature inside entrances and private baths with showers. If you choose to upgrade, the most spacious inside cabins offer a little extra storage and a large dressing mirror, and some feature an additional single upper bunk.

If you opt for a spacious suite, you’ll be treated to a sweeping river view as you relax in your elegant sitting area which features a sofa-bed and cocktail table. Enjoy a soak in your bathtub or shower before retiring to your antique double or queen-size bed.

Public spaces and entertainment

Select a book from the vast collection in the Mark Twain Gallery or retreat to a lounge and indulge in a selection of refreshments. If you want a breath of fresh air, admire the views from the sun deck and maybe take a dip in the pool, and for the ultimate in relaxation, spoil yourself with a pampering session in the on board spa (at an additional cost).

Evenings offer the opportunity to enjoy a sing-along in the Main Deck Lounge, and then take in a lavish show in the two-deck-tall Grand Saloon – the most elegant showplace on the river.

Dining that celebrates the culinary senses

Every meal aboard the American Queen is an affair to remember. Culinary Director and celebrated American chef Regina Charboneau has created an indulgent feast of treats, from tempting breakfast buffets to succulent five-course dinners every day.

Even more astounding than the choices you will find on the menus are your daily choices of dining venues. Choose from the opulent J.M. White Dining Saloon, the 24-hour Front Porch of America, serving a wide variety of classic American dishes, or the Calliope Grill, which serves up views as spectacular as its fare, and offers romantic, alfresco dining in the evenings.

Should you feel peckish in the wee hours, you will find the Moonlight Supper in the Engine Room Bar offers surprising midnight delights.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Included excursions and visits

During your steamboat cruise you will visit Hannibal, Dubuque, La Crosse, Red Wing, Saint Paul
Saint Paul sightseeing tour
Milwaukee sightseeing tour
Chicago sightseeing tour

Your holiday includes

Scheduled flights as described
Transfers and other transportation
5 nights’ hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis
7-night cruise on a full-board basis including entertainment on board and Captain’s Champagne reception and gala dinner
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager
Hotel porterage (one bag per person)
All airport taxes and security charges
UK Airline Passenger Duty
All state and local taxes

With 50 years’ experience in arranging escorted tours to exciting destinations across the globe, Travelsphere have built an excellent reputation founded on quality and value.

By choosing a Travelsphere escorted holiday you can travel with confidence, knowing that every aspect of your holiday has been carefully planned and arranged from start to finish. Further to this they are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA.

Travelsphere’s thorough planning of travel arrangements, itineraries and accommodation combined with the unique insight of their knowledgeable Tour Managers and Local Guides will enable you to experience the culture, traditions and hidden away places less accessible to other travellers.

Our Opinion
“Travelsphere are one of the biggest names in the Escorted Tour market. Finely tuned over the last 50 years their tours have been tried, tested and refined by thousands of customers.”